In addition to recommending 10 of the best restaurants in the Sarasota and Bradenton area , we are excited to see many new restaurants opening recently.
The verdict is still out on what will become of three popular waterfront restaurants on northern Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, and a spot on Longboat Key overlooking Sarasota Bay that were all recently sold . Fingers crossed the new owner cares as much about these places as we do.
Unfortunately, one of our favorite restaurants on Longboat Key announced it will close at the end of July, while a local brewery also shuttered this past month. On a brighter note, a Sarasota restaurant and a Bradenton dining spot were both recognized nationally .
Presented in no particular order, here are the biggest restaurant openings, closings, sales, and honors that we reported on during July in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
10 best waterfront restaurant in Sarasota area
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Magnanimous Brewing closes, Sun Lab Brewing opens in Bradenton
After two years in business, Magnanimous Brewing (which still has two Tampa locations open) left its downtown Bradenton taproom at 803 17th Ave. W. across the street from LECOM Park at the beginning of July. Luckily for local craft beer lovers, it didn't take long for another brewery to take over the space, with the Miami-based Sun Lab Brewing assuming the space and even retaining Magnanimous' former food truck partner Coastal Smash, which serves a variety of smash burgers and fries. Before Magnanimous, the taproom was occupied by Darwin Brewing Company, whose co-founder Darwin Santa Maria r ecently acquired the brand with plans to open a Sarasota location.
Downtown Bradenton brewery closing, new brewery opening in its place
Lenny'z Pizza & Island Bar opens on Siesta Key
Lenny'z Pizza & Island Bar recently opened on Siesta Key at 6645 Midnight Pass Road, the former longtime space of City Pizza, which opened three decades ago and briefly rebranded as Pizza N' Brew in 2020 before permanently closing last year. (Another Pizza N' Brew location in downtown Sarasota also closed , with the new pizzeria Pie on Main opening in its former space earlier this year .) Owned by Dan Lennartz along with his wife Theresa, son Noah and daughter Tori, Lenny'z serves pizza by the slice or the pie, New York or Sicilian-style, along with burgers, subs, salads, wraps, chicken wings and tenders, appetizers and desserts.
New pizza restaurant opens on Siesta Key
Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar voted Top 10 dog bar in country
In December, we published our annual list of favorite new restaurants of the year and included Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar, located in the Rosemary District just north of downtown Sarasota proper, as the "best new restaurant for dog (and pizza) lovers." Earlier this month , Boo's was chosen as one of the Top 10 dog bars in the country as a result of voting by the readers of USA TODAY in the publication's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards contest for "canine-centric spots." "Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar is a spacious facility with indoor and outdoor dog parks, where humans and dogs can grab a bite to eat," reads the entry by USA TODAY, which is a sister publication of the Herald-Tribune. "There's plenty of room for pups to mix and mingle off-leash in this former ice house."
One of Sarasota's best new restaurants voted Top 10 dog bar in country by USA TODAY
Wine Spectator names 16 Sarasota-Manatee restaurants to annual list
This July, Wine Spectator magazine announced its annual Restaurant Awards , which "recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers," with 16 Sarasota-Manatee restaurants making the cut . The restaurants were Alpine Steakhouse, Cafe L'Europe, Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood., Marcello Ristorante Italiano, Michael's on East and Sage in Sarasota; Cafe Gabbiano and Summer House Steak & Seafood on Siesta Key; The Crow's Nest in Venice; Maison Blanche on Longboat Key; The Capital Grille and Seasons 52 in University Town Center; Pier 22 and O'Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar in Bradenton; and Grove and Osteria 500 in Lakewood Ranch.
Top wine spots: 16 Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice restaurants among best in world
La Villa Mexican Grill on Longboat Key permanently closing
La Villa Mexican Grill on Longboat Key, which opened about two years ago and made our list of the best Mexican restaurants in all of Sarasota and Manatee counties , will soon be permanently closing . "With deep sadness in our hearts we need to let everyone know we are closing our LBK location at the end of the month," reads the Facebook post from July 4 . "Starting Friday the 5th, we will have Tacos and Tequila Nights Thursday-Saturday. Thank you all for your best wishes, and thank you from our family to yours for always welcoming us into the community."
One of the best Mexican restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton permanently closing
Bar Italia opens in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch's Center Point development, which is home to the second location for downtown Sarasota seafood spot Owen's Fish Camp and steakhouse chain Ruth's Chris Steak House, recently added another restaurant to its roster with the opening of Bar Italia . The Italian restaurant, which serves a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and other entrees, is part of the Cleveland-based NCR (Next Cool Restaurants) Ventures. Along with two Ohio locations, Bar Italia also has a restaurant in Winter Park near Orlando, with Lakewood Ranch being its second Florida location.
New Italian restaurant opening in Lakewood Ranch
Central Cafe, Sarasota and Bradenton's best French fry restaurant, featured in USA TODAY
Central Cafe in Br ade nton , the winner of our survey to find the best French fry restaurant in Sarasota and Manatee counties , was featured in the pages of USA TODAY for National French Fry Day on July 12, with only two Florida restaurants included in the list of 20 from across the country. Central Cafe's thin, hand-cut fries are adorned with chunks of coarse salt and offered to guests as a heaping pile of decadent deliciousness. Lightly fried, smartly salted, and served warm with a soft center and just the right amount of crispiness, each fry is somehow more fabulously addictive than the last.
Bradenton restaurant featured in USA TODAY for best French fries
Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa opens with two restaurants, rooftop bar
Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, which offers spectacular views of the mile-wide Manatee River where it meets the Gulf of Mexico, opened earlier this month . It features two restaurants. Oyster River offers guests views of the Manatee River from its perch eight stories high, while The Social restaurant and bar is adjacent to the lobby. The Oyster River Rooftop Restaurant features a coastal-inspired menu that highlights fresh Florida fare with a Mediterranean twist, according to a press release. At The Social, on the ground floor, guests are invited to enjoy cuisine and crafted cocktails in a casual, coastal setting.
Sarasota, Bradenton's newest resort, rooftop restaurant opens
Downtown Sarasota restaurant Utamaro opens second location
Operating out of the same downtown Sarasota space at 1900 Main St., Unit 107 for around 17 years (it was on St. Armands Circle before that), the restaurant Utamaro recently opened a second location in Punta Gorda at 615 Cross St., Unit 1114 in the Cross Trails Center. Utamaro specializes in sushi, sashimi and other seafood, with dishes such as the Hamachi Crazy, made with yellowtail; Hotategai jumbo scallops; and Unagi Don, grilled eel on top of a bed of rice. However, it offers numerous non-seafood dishes as well, including vegetarian sushi rolls, orange chicken, and kung pao and teriyaki stir fry.
Downtown Sarasota restaurant with 17 years of history opens new location
5 Sarasota restaurants, 2 rooftop bars featured in Southern Living city guide
Southern Living magazine recently published an article about the "15 Best Things To Do In Sarasota" that includes suggestions for five popular Sarasota restaurants, as well as a couple of rooftop bars . These include the seafood destinations Walt's Fish Market Restaurant & Tiki Ba and Owen's Fish Camp . For downtown Sarasota, Southern Living focuses on Indigenous while also mentioning Selva and Boca. In addition to the five restaurant recommendations, Southern Living highlights two rooftop bars: Art Ovation's Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar , receiving just a few words of light praise, and Sage , hailed by the author as "hands down the best spot in town for a proper dusk happy hour."
Southern Living city guide includes 5 Sarasota restaurants, 2 rooftop bars
Sandbar, Beach House and Mar Vista waterfront restaurants sold
Longtime Manatee County resident Ed Chiles and his Chiles Hospitality company announced the sale of Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, their two beachfront dining destinations on Anna Maria Island, as well as Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, located on Longboat Key overlooking Sarasota Bay. The sale to Beachside Hospitality Group also includes Anna Maria Bake House and Chiles' events department. Led by founder and owner Ed Chiles, who has been in the restaurant business for 45 years, Chiles Hospitality will continue to operate Gamble Creek Farms, its 26-acre organic certified farm in Parrish.
Sold! 3 of best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton bought by hospitality group
What we know about Beachside Hospitality, buyer of Sandbar, Beach House and Mar Vista waterfront restaurants
Beachside Hospitality Group is based in St. Petersburg , bills itself as “Florida’s Leading Restaurant Management Company,” and currently oversees 13 restaurants in eight cities across the state. Their website shows 10 Crabby's locations across the state, including one on Treasure Island and three in Clearwater. Greg Powers, the Chief Executive Officer at Beachside Hospitality Group, studied at Rollins College and lives in Clearwater, according to his social media profile.
What we know About buyer of three waterfront restaurants in Sarasota-Manatee
Email entertainment editor Wade Tatangelo at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing .
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 6 Sarasota area restaurants open, 3 sold, 2 permanently closing, 2 named among U.S. best
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